Sequences with divisibility












1














A sequence is such that $a_o =1, a_1= 1, a_{n+1}
=a_{n}a_{n-1}+1$
so we have to comment on divisibilty of $a_{2007} $ by 4.



I found out first few values in sequence as
1,1,2,3,7,22, .... which told me that only $a_{3n} $ is even.
But can there be some other elaborative method?










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    1














    A sequence is such that $a_o =1, a_1= 1, a_{n+1}
    =a_{n}a_{n-1}+1$
    so we have to comment on divisibilty of $a_{2007} $ by 4.



    I found out first few values in sequence as
    1,1,2,3,7,22, .... which told me that only $a_{3n} $ is even.
    But can there be some other elaborative method?










    share|cite|improve this question



























      1












      1








      1







      A sequence is such that $a_o =1, a_1= 1, a_{n+1}
      =a_{n}a_{n-1}+1$
      so we have to comment on divisibilty of $a_{2007} $ by 4.



      I found out first few values in sequence as
      1,1,2,3,7,22, .... which told me that only $a_{3n} $ is even.
      But can there be some other elaborative method?










      share|cite|improve this question















      A sequence is such that $a_o =1, a_1= 1, a_{n+1}
      =a_{n}a_{n-1}+1$
      so we have to comment on divisibilty of $a_{2007} $ by 4.



      I found out first few values in sequence as
      1,1,2,3,7,22, .... which told me that only $a_{3n} $ is even.
      But can there be some other elaborative method?







      sequences-and-series






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      edited Dec 26 '18 at 17:51









      Bernard

      118k639112




      118k639112










      asked Dec 26 '18 at 17:42









      maveric

      67611




      67611






















          3 Answers
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          2














          The sequence $a_nbmod 4$ is eventually periodic with a readily determined period ...






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            1














            Hint $ $ There are $j<k$ with $,(a_j,a_{j+1})equiv (a_k,a_{k+1}),pmod{!4} $ since there are only finitely many such pairs $!bmod {!4}$. The recurrence depends only on the pair of prior values so this leads to cyclic behavior.






            share|cite|improve this answer





















            • For more on this idea see my posts on reinventing the wheel (cycle)
              – Bill Dubuque
              Dec 26 '18 at 18:42





















            0














            Questions regarding divisibility in general are often a lot easier to tackle using modulaic algebra since we don't care about precisely what values the numbers will assume. In case you don't know what the modulo k operator is, it is basically the remainder that you get after you divide a number by k. If a number is divisible by k, so in our case 4, then it is zero in mod 4 since there is no rest.



            So in this case we can translate the first values that you got into mod 4 as follows: 1,1,2,3,3,2 ... Now let's multiply a number in mod 2 by a number in mod 3. These numbers can be written as a=(4c+2) and b=(4d+3), so the result of their multiplication is 4d+6. However, we should add an extra one in the sequence, which will give us 4d+7. As you can verify, this number is indeed 3 in mod 4. Whenever we multiply two numbers that are 3 in mod 4, the next number in the sequence will be 2.



            Therefore we can conjecture that no element in the entire sequence will be divisible by 4 since each one of them will be either 2 or 3 in mod 4.






            share|cite|improve this answer








            New contributor




            tyler1 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes








              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              2














              The sequence $a_nbmod 4$ is eventually periodic with a readily determined period ...






              share|cite|improve this answer




























                2














                The sequence $a_nbmod 4$ is eventually periodic with a readily determined period ...






                share|cite|improve this answer


























                  2












                  2








                  2






                  The sequence $a_nbmod 4$ is eventually periodic with a readily determined period ...






                  share|cite|improve this answer














                  The sequence $a_nbmod 4$ is eventually periodic with a readily determined period ...







                  share|cite|improve this answer














                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer








                  edited Dec 26 '18 at 17:49

























                  answered Dec 26 '18 at 17:44









                  Hagen von Eitzen

                  276k21269496




                  276k21269496























                      1














                      Hint $ $ There are $j<k$ with $,(a_j,a_{j+1})equiv (a_k,a_{k+1}),pmod{!4} $ since there are only finitely many such pairs $!bmod {!4}$. The recurrence depends only on the pair of prior values so this leads to cyclic behavior.






                      share|cite|improve this answer





















                      • For more on this idea see my posts on reinventing the wheel (cycle)
                        – Bill Dubuque
                        Dec 26 '18 at 18:42


















                      1














                      Hint $ $ There are $j<k$ with $,(a_j,a_{j+1})equiv (a_k,a_{k+1}),pmod{!4} $ since there are only finitely many such pairs $!bmod {!4}$. The recurrence depends only on the pair of prior values so this leads to cyclic behavior.






                      share|cite|improve this answer





















                      • For more on this idea see my posts on reinventing the wheel (cycle)
                        – Bill Dubuque
                        Dec 26 '18 at 18:42
















                      1












                      1








                      1






                      Hint $ $ There are $j<k$ with $,(a_j,a_{j+1})equiv (a_k,a_{k+1}),pmod{!4} $ since there are only finitely many such pairs $!bmod {!4}$. The recurrence depends only on the pair of prior values so this leads to cyclic behavior.






                      share|cite|improve this answer












                      Hint $ $ There are $j<k$ with $,(a_j,a_{j+1})equiv (a_k,a_{k+1}),pmod{!4} $ since there are only finitely many such pairs $!bmod {!4}$. The recurrence depends only on the pair of prior values so this leads to cyclic behavior.







                      share|cite|improve this answer












                      share|cite|improve this answer



                      share|cite|improve this answer










                      answered Dec 26 '18 at 18:39









                      Bill Dubuque

                      208k29190628




                      208k29190628












                      • For more on this idea see my posts on reinventing the wheel (cycle)
                        – Bill Dubuque
                        Dec 26 '18 at 18:42




















                      • For more on this idea see my posts on reinventing the wheel (cycle)
                        – Bill Dubuque
                        Dec 26 '18 at 18:42


















                      For more on this idea see my posts on reinventing the wheel (cycle)
                      – Bill Dubuque
                      Dec 26 '18 at 18:42






                      For more on this idea see my posts on reinventing the wheel (cycle)
                      – Bill Dubuque
                      Dec 26 '18 at 18:42













                      0














                      Questions regarding divisibility in general are often a lot easier to tackle using modulaic algebra since we don't care about precisely what values the numbers will assume. In case you don't know what the modulo k operator is, it is basically the remainder that you get after you divide a number by k. If a number is divisible by k, so in our case 4, then it is zero in mod 4 since there is no rest.



                      So in this case we can translate the first values that you got into mod 4 as follows: 1,1,2,3,3,2 ... Now let's multiply a number in mod 2 by a number in mod 3. These numbers can be written as a=(4c+2) and b=(4d+3), so the result of their multiplication is 4d+6. However, we should add an extra one in the sequence, which will give us 4d+7. As you can verify, this number is indeed 3 in mod 4. Whenever we multiply two numbers that are 3 in mod 4, the next number in the sequence will be 2.



                      Therefore we can conjecture that no element in the entire sequence will be divisible by 4 since each one of them will be either 2 or 3 in mod 4.






                      share|cite|improve this answer








                      New contributor




                      tyler1 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                      Check out our Code of Conduct.























                        0














                        Questions regarding divisibility in general are often a lot easier to tackle using modulaic algebra since we don't care about precisely what values the numbers will assume. In case you don't know what the modulo k operator is, it is basically the remainder that you get after you divide a number by k. If a number is divisible by k, so in our case 4, then it is zero in mod 4 since there is no rest.



                        So in this case we can translate the first values that you got into mod 4 as follows: 1,1,2,3,3,2 ... Now let's multiply a number in mod 2 by a number in mod 3. These numbers can be written as a=(4c+2) and b=(4d+3), so the result of their multiplication is 4d+6. However, we should add an extra one in the sequence, which will give us 4d+7. As you can verify, this number is indeed 3 in mod 4. Whenever we multiply two numbers that are 3 in mod 4, the next number in the sequence will be 2.



                        Therefore we can conjecture that no element in the entire sequence will be divisible by 4 since each one of them will be either 2 or 3 in mod 4.






                        share|cite|improve this answer








                        New contributor




                        tyler1 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                        Check out our Code of Conduct.





















                          0












                          0








                          0






                          Questions regarding divisibility in general are often a lot easier to tackle using modulaic algebra since we don't care about precisely what values the numbers will assume. In case you don't know what the modulo k operator is, it is basically the remainder that you get after you divide a number by k. If a number is divisible by k, so in our case 4, then it is zero in mod 4 since there is no rest.



                          So in this case we can translate the first values that you got into mod 4 as follows: 1,1,2,3,3,2 ... Now let's multiply a number in mod 2 by a number in mod 3. These numbers can be written as a=(4c+2) and b=(4d+3), so the result of their multiplication is 4d+6. However, we should add an extra one in the sequence, which will give us 4d+7. As you can verify, this number is indeed 3 in mod 4. Whenever we multiply two numbers that are 3 in mod 4, the next number in the sequence will be 2.



                          Therefore we can conjecture that no element in the entire sequence will be divisible by 4 since each one of them will be either 2 or 3 in mod 4.






                          share|cite|improve this answer








                          New contributor




                          tyler1 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.









                          Questions regarding divisibility in general are often a lot easier to tackle using modulaic algebra since we don't care about precisely what values the numbers will assume. In case you don't know what the modulo k operator is, it is basically the remainder that you get after you divide a number by k. If a number is divisible by k, so in our case 4, then it is zero in mod 4 since there is no rest.



                          So in this case we can translate the first values that you got into mod 4 as follows: 1,1,2,3,3,2 ... Now let's multiply a number in mod 2 by a number in mod 3. These numbers can be written as a=(4c+2) and b=(4d+3), so the result of their multiplication is 4d+6. However, we should add an extra one in the sequence, which will give us 4d+7. As you can verify, this number is indeed 3 in mod 4. Whenever we multiply two numbers that are 3 in mod 4, the next number in the sequence will be 2.



                          Therefore we can conjecture that no element in the entire sequence will be divisible by 4 since each one of them will be either 2 or 3 in mod 4.







                          share|cite|improve this answer








                          New contributor




                          tyler1 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                          Check out our Code of Conduct.









                          share|cite|improve this answer



                          share|cite|improve this answer






                          New contributor




                          tyler1 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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                          answered Dec 26 '18 at 18:13









                          tyler1

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                          92




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